Archive for the Ouch! Category

Michael Jackson, who has never really been the posterchild for anything resembling healthy living, is rumored to be suffering from a MRSA-type infection that is “threatening to eat his flesh”, according to the British tabloid The Sun. Now, I know, reports like this are usually fabricated and are based solely on the inventive imaginations of tabloid editors BUT, it must be said, if this is true then it would explain a lot of Jacko‘s recent appearance and behavior. That being said, take this report with a huge grain of salt:

MICHAEL JACKSON is suffering from an acute MRSA-type skin infection which threatens to EAT his flesh. The singer has been receiving antibiotics via a drip in a bid to beat the superbug, which sources say has spread throughout his body. Jacko, 50, revealed painfully-inflamed skin on his face and hands as he visited a Beverly Hills clinic where he is being treated. The stricken pop legend may have contracted the infection following plastic surgery on his NOSE, it was feared last night. The 50-year-old Billie Jean singer is said to have a severe “staph” infection, resistant to conventional antibiotics. Experts warned it threatened to develop into a terrifying flesh-eating disorder which could kill off areas of the superstar’s skin and leave him in need of major reconstructive surgery. Jacko has been receiving antibiotics via an IV drip in a bid to beat the condition. But the skin on his face and hands looked inflamed when he was snapped on his way to a Beverly Hills clinic during another week of intense treatment. A source revealed last night: “Michael Jackson has a severe staph infection that he contracted during work to reconstruct his nose. The disease is an MRSA-style infection because it is resistant to conventional antibiotics, so he has been visiting a clinic to get antibiotics via an IV drip. The infection has spread throughout his face and body and is being aggressively treated by doctors. There’s a chance it could turn into a flesh-eating disorder where it begins to kill off his skin so he’s being very carefully monitored.” Jackson was seen twice visiting the same clinic within a week. He emerged with his face covered by dark sunglasses and a surgical mask — and with his hair hidden behind a surgical cap. The usually-pale skin on his hands and face appeared visibly inflamed with red and purple blotches and he appeared to have a severely swollen cheek. US celebrity plastic surgeon Dr Anthony Youn, who has not treated Jacko but has viewed the shocking photos of the star, said: “It is possible that Mr Jackson has a staph infection or MRSA. This is called a ‘super-infection’ because it is resistant to conventional antibiotics. It does look like his skin is red and inflamed and has become infected. Staph infection or MRSA is extremely worrying because it is an aggressive infection that is resistant to most conventional antibiotics. In some worse cases surgeons will have to remove the infected tissue if it dies — leaving the patient needing major reconstructive surgery. It is particularly worrying if it is on the face.” Dr Youn, who runs The Hills Plastic Surgery and Laser Centre and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, said: “Many people in the health-care system can contract this disease via cuts to the skin. “But it is possible Mr Jackson contracted it through surgery on his nose. There are occasions where patients contract the infection during plastic surgery procedures. Doctors try to treat the infection early with antibiotics administered via IV drip — and in many cases the patient can make a good recovery if it is caught early enough.” Jackson’s increasingly frail appearance has prompted speculation about the state of his health.

As I said, you cannot always believe these sorts of reports but sometimes where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Also, I know Dr. Tony Youn (the doctor quoted in this report) who is a plastic surgeon back home in Michigan (my good friend Megan works in his office) and he absolutely knows what he is talking about. Altho, Dr. Youn has never treated Michael Jackson (and is only offering his opinion in a larger, more general sense about MRSA itself) he is very qualified to speak on the dangers of his deadly disease. There is no proof at all that Jackson suffers from this flesh-eating infection but, as I said, if he did it would explain a lot about how he’s been lookin’ in recent months. Whatever is wrong with him, I hope he’s getting the help he requires. He may be a wacky trainwreck but no one deserves to suffer in this manner. So, what do y’all think is wrong with Jacko … is this story really that difficult to believe?

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